Hot air respirator



Nov. 27, 1934.

J. E. BJURSTROM HOT AIR RESPIRATOR Filed March 21, 1952 Irv wsvvrolz- ATTwawEr Patented Nov. 27, 1934 1,982,412 HOT AIR RESPIRATOR John E. Bjurstrom, St. Paul, Minn.

Application March 21, 1932 Serial No. 600,112

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a device most aptly designated a hot air respirator. An object of the device is to provide electrically generated heat which circulates directly to and into the nasal passages or to the mouth if so desired within a shield member adapted to be pressed air tight against the face of the user.

To more readily understandmy device it will first be stated that the application of heat as provided with this device comprises a healing agent andis conveyed by breathing action to infected or diseased ducts and areas inside of the head. The theory involved is that heat makes the blood and lymphatic fluids thinner and easier flowing, thus penetrating the congested or in- T fected areas more readily.

Therefore the main object is to provide a respirator to supply warm air particularly to the nose for healing infections in the head and in the respiratory system. This is done by an electric heating unit as stated and provided with adjustment means for variable degrees of heat as may be needed. Said heat unit is mounted on a rubber mask which covers only the nose and mouth as hereinafter fully set forth.

' In the accompanying drawing,-

Fig. 1 is a top view of my device and Fig. 2 a.

front elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device in op- Q erative position on the face of a patient, said lface being shown in dotted lines only.

Fig. 4 is a diametrical cross sectional detail view as on line 4-4 in Fig. 3, showing a preferred form of electric heating unit.

Fig. 5 is a face view of a perforated plate P within the heating unit and through which heat circulates to the interior of the mask.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, my device comprises a facial mask 6, preferi ably of rubber and of such size and shape as to i .1 cover the nose and mouth of a patient 7 and extending from the chin to the bridge of the nose vertically and horizontally about 4 inches wide near its base, thence tapering to the upper end.

The rim of the mask and adjacent inner areas 2.1. may be suitably padded as 8 and the entire mask being flexible, its rim parts are pressed in air tight condition against the face and may be held in place by a suitable elastic band 9 adapted to be placed around the head. The mask extends Y forward of the nose and is tapered in that direction to a preferably circular and exteriorly flanged opening, the flange of which is designated GB in Fig. 4, said opening being approximately in a vertical plane when the mask is in position.

To the flanged forward part described is fixed an electric heating unit comprising a 2 part metal shell of which the rear part is designated 10 and resembles a shallow circular tin box of which the bottom 103 has a circular opening and frictionally engagesunder the flange 6F of the mask. The exterior of this member is threaded to receive a correspondingly threaded front member or shell 11 of the heating unit, said latter member having a rheostat 12 suitably mounted within its front wall and having suitable wire contact with a plate 13 of insulating material, on the inner face of which is suitably fixed an electric resistance coil 14 shown as a spiral flat metal member in Fig. 4. Plate 13 is of a size to be removably retained concentrically inthe forward end of shell 10 and may be fixed to the inner perimetral edge of shell 11. Electric current is conducted from any available source through a plug 15 and cord 16 to the rheostat, the amount of current regulated through the rheostat thence through a gap 13G to the coil 14, being regulated by a rotary button 1'7.

P is perforated plate intermediate coil 14 and. base 103 andthrough the perforations of which heated air is drawn to the interior of the mask as indicated by arrows 18 in Fig. 4. It is obvious that the rheostat shown is merely illustrative, it being understood that merely a variable resistance coil with suitable manipulating means therefor need be provided. In my device the preferred heat generating means embodies the coil 14 of any suitable material readily generating heat within the chamber formed between plates P and 13.

l9 designates a number of perforations in shell member 11 for intake of air.

The use of my respirator and its construction have now been fully disclosed. The patient does not require certain room temperatures, the heated air available within the mask being determined as required. Obviously means must be provided for exhalation and for this purpose a valve housing 20 (Fig. 3) is mounted preferably on the side of the mask and providing for air to escape only during exhaling, the said valve being otherwise normally closed.

It will be also readily understood that the accompanying drawing illustrates only a preferred embodiment of my invention, various modifications being optional without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, other equally efficient construction may be used instead of the take-apart construction involving the threaded shell members 10-11.

I claim:

In a respirator of the class described and including a flexible mask adapted to bear against the face and inclose the respiratory organs; said mask provided with an opening directly forward of said organs, an air heating chamber secured to said opening part of the mask, electric heating means mounted within said chamber, said chamber provided in its forward part with air intake apertures, a preforated plate adjacent the mask opening and within the inner part of said chamber, said heating means comprising a resistance coil in an upright plane and in the path of air JOHN E. BJURSTROM. 

